Prep Redzone Combine: 10 Offensive Prospects To Watch In Grants

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over 70 New Mexico prospects are registered to compete Saturday in the Prep Redzone Combine at Grants High School. Many of the top young players in the Albuquerque Metro Region and throughout the state will be there. Here are 10 offensive players to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josiah Castillo, Goddard</strong>: Castillo is one of the most intriguing young prospects in southeast New Mexico. He's 6-foot-2, 185 pounds and still has two years left to play. Last season he had 27 receptions for 527 yard and scored 10 TD as a sophomore. Saturday will be Castillo's opportunity to show us the depth of his talents. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853757' first='Ulisses' last='Castro'], Bernalillo</strong>: Our No. 1 prospect in the 2027 rankings, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Castro is ultra-athletic and ready to take the next step after a solid freshman campaign in 2023 when he caught 25 passes and scored 7 TD on offense and made 70 tackles on defense. Castro is definitely one of the players we'll be watching closely on Saturday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613060' first='Andres' last='Lazos'], Grants</strong>: With the Combine at GHS, the Pirates will be well represented at Saturday's Combine. Lazos was arguably Grants' top player in 2023 as he rushed for nearly 1,300 yards and 12 TD. Lazos and Grants are on an upward trajectory. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='839823' first='Cheeto' last='Lumbrera III'], La Cueva</strong>: Lumbrera emerged in the second half of last season as one of the most dynamic running backs in New Mexico, and he played a key role in the Bears' run to the 6A championship. Now he has an entire season ahead of him in which he'll be La Cueva's No. 1 RB. We're expecting big things from Lumbrera on Saturday. New Mexico Highlands has offered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado'], Cleveland</strong>: Transfer rules prohibited Maldonado from playing for the Cleveland varsity last season but he still has two years left to play. Maldonado has performed well at previous camps. He possesses outstanding speed (under 4.6 in the 40). Right now, Maldonado is flying under the radar but might be the case after Saturday. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137124' first='RJ' last='Montoya'], Hope Christian</strong>: Because Hope Christian is just a Class 3A school, they're often overlooked in the Albuquerque metro region. But Montoya is the real deal as a dual threat QB. He threw for over 1,300 yards as a sophomore in 2023. Saturday is Montoya's opportunity to introduce himself to a wider audience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hershul Olloway, St. Pius X</strong>: Before he suffered an injury last season, Olloway was well on his way to becoming one of the top 2027 running backs in the state. Olloway is part of a talented and promising group of young players for the Sartans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119650' first='Kason' last='Perez'], Carlsbad</strong>: Perez quarterbacked the Cavemen in 2023 and oversaw a balanced offensive attack, throwing for nearly 1,300 yards. With 1,000-yard rusher Ulysses Mendoz graduating, Carlsbad could rely more on Perez's passing prowess in 2023. He's making the LONG drive from Carlsbad to Grants to showcase his talents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237979' first='Daniel' last='Quinones'], Eldorado</strong>: Quinones has enjoyed a sensational offseason in terms of recruiting and Saturday he looks to continue that trend on field. He was offered by New Mexico Highlands on March 8 and recently visited New Mexico State. He has received numerous invitations to camps and junior days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1129687' first='Jonah' last='Villegas'], Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Villegas' mission this season is to continue to establish himself as one of the top running backs in northern New Mexico, and become a name to know throughout the state. Villegas possesses elite speed. Don't be surprised if Villegas posts oner of the fastest 40 times on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Josiah_Casti11o/status/1778199277657014669","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Josiah_Casti11o/status/1778199277657014669 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/25DanielQ/status/1778213585401074009","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/25DanielQ/status/1778213585401074009 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jakemaldonado08/status/1727889685748621560","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jakemaldonado08/status/1727889685748621560 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/hot_cheeto_abq/status/1766313808979464375","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/hot_cheeto_abq/status/1766313808979464375 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->